OPINION:
Nevada may be gambler’s paradise, but wagering that a pot of gold waits at the end of the rainbow is a bet to regret. Thanks to the choices the Silver State’s voters made Saturday, Democrats are on the path to selecting a socialism-loving utopian to compete for the nation’s highest office. Sen. Bernie Sanders has vaulted into a commanding lead in the race to represent the party in the 2020 presidential election. The choice is unwise, and the consequences could prove ruinous.
A New Yorker transplanted amid the forests of Vermont, Mr. Sanders notched a dominating win Saturday in the Nevada caucuses. In contrast to the squeaker in New Hampshire, where he barely got past former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the independent rocked the Democratic Party’s canvas with 47 percent of the vote. Gaining momentum, the Sanders statist machine may prove to be unstoppable. Mr. Sanders said as much Friday night. Sensing impending victory, he tweeted: “I’ve got news for the Republican establishment. I’ve got news for the Democratic establishment. They can’t stop us.”
If he is right, the nation is on course to rub out “God” and rewrite its official motto to read, “In Government We Trust.” In a Sanders America, the only variance from textbook socialism — social ownership of the means of production — would be a minor one. U.S. business would remain in corporate and private hands, but government regulation would pull the strings. Astronomically costly Sanders policy prescriptions — Medicare for all, free college, phasing out of fossil fuel, heavier taxes on all but the poorest — would cripple the peerless U.S. economy. So much for “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
In the aftermath of Nevada, the remaining Democratic competitors must console themselves with the polite applause due the runners-up. For the first time since losing his frontrunner status, former Vice President Joe Biden finished on his feet, earning second place with 21 percent. Mayor Pete managed to come in on Uncle Joe’s heels, with 14 percent.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren failed to capitalize on her powerful Las Vegas debate performance Wednesday, placing fourth with 10 percent. Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer split the bottom 9 percent. Mike Bloomberg did not appear on the Nevada ballot.
For their part, Nevada Republicans canceled their 2020 caucuses last year in order to throw united support behind President Trump. The president nonetheless counterbalanced Democrats with his own Las Vegas rally Friday, then tweeted his summation of the week’s political outcomes: “Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada. Biden & the rest look weak, & no way Mini Mike can restart his campaign after the worst debate performance in the history of Presidential Debates. Congratulations Bernie, & don’t let them take it away from you!”
Though their state is not exactly Middle America, Nevadans have shown a fairly accurate eye for picking their parties’ eventual presidential nominees since their caucuses were moved up in 2008 to precede the Super Tuesday primaries. That year was the only exception, when they selected Mitt Romney over John McCain, and Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama.
Nearly 75 percent of the state’s 3 million residents live in or around Las Vegas, an oasis of recreation surrounded by desolation. More centralized than earlier voting states, its population is nevertheless more racially diverse. Early-voting Iowa and New Hampshire are more than 90 percent white, while Nevada’s caucasian proportion has recently slipped below 50 percent. Hispanics make up about 28 percent, around 9 percent are African-American and Asians comprise around 8 percent.
The Democratic contenders will attempt to regain their leadership stature next to Mr. Sanders on the debate stage Tuesday in Charleston, South Carolina, Mr. Biden is considered to have the best shot at halting the socialist’s surge. The Palmetto State’s sizable African-American populace is expected to reward him for his past association with Barack Obama, the nation’s first black president. The Real Clear Politics poll average on Sunday gave Mr. Biden a slight advantage in South Carolina over Mr. Sanders, 24.5 percent to 21.5 percent.
Time is running out for Democrats across the country to prove they’re too smart to chase socialist rainbows. They owe it to those who share a love for the red, white and blue to choose anybody but Bernie.
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